Disciplinary Knowledge - Causation
History: KS3, topic 1.13.11
Causation in History
Historical changes happen due to individuals and broader conditions. These causes can be short or long-term.
Specific causes
- Historical changes often happen because of specific causes.
- These specific causes can be divided into two main categories: individual actions and broader conditions.
- Individual actions are decisions or events caused by a single person e.g. a king starting a war.
- Broader conditions are the social, political, or economic situations that influence events.
Individual conditions
- Individuals can have a big impact on history.
- William the Conqueror made personal decisions that helped him win the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
- William prepared carefully, gathered a strong army, and used clever tactics in the battle.
- Personal choices like these are important because they can lead to significant changes in history.
Broader conditions
- Broader conditions, like the economy or society, can make people behave in certain ways.
- In the Battle of Hastings, the conditions in England played a big part.
- King Harold’s army was tired after fighting another battle, and England had recently experienced a lot of political instability.
- These conditions made it harder for Harold to defend his kingdom.
- When conditions are challenging, it can be easier for change to happen.
Individual and broader conditions together
- Sometimes, individuals and broader conditions work together to create change.
- If a country is struggling economically, a strong leader might emerge to fix the problem.
- This leader’s decisions might change history, but those decisions are influenced by the existing economic struggles.
Time
- The causes of historical change can also be grouped by time.
- Some causes happen quickly and are called short-term causes.
- Other causes develop slowly over many years.
- In the Battle of Hastings, the immediate battle plan (short-term cause) and the years of rivalry between William and Harold (long-term cause) both led to William’s victory.
Studying causation
- When causes lead to change, these changes also have consequences.
- After William won the Battle of Hastings, England changed in many ways, such as the introduction of the feudal system and new laws.
- Understanding the causes of an event helps us understand the effects that follow.
Test yourself on Disciplinary Knowledge - Causation
Which of the following is an example of a broader condition that influenced the outcome of the Battle of Hastings?
What are the two categories into which causes of historical change can be divided?